New toy safety regulations take effect
The regulations are the long-awaited response to the massive 2007 toy recalls when so many toys were found to be contaminated with lead.
The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act cuts in half the amount of lead allowed in toys, from 600 parts per million (ppm) to 300 ppm. The amount of lead allowed in the surface or paint coating toys will also be cut back, including the infamously contaminated toy category of children’s jewelry.
The act’s new regulations also include tracking requirements so toys that must be recalled will be easier to track and pull from shelves, along with increased fines for retailers and manufacturers who do not comply. The per-violation fine has been increased from $8,000 to $100,000.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission says it is serious about these new regulations, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Inez Tenenbaum, issued a statement Thursday in which she urged businesses to comply with the law she said will help protect families. “By ensuring that toys and other children’s products meet strict lead limits and can be tracked in the event of a recall, I believe children will be better protected in their homes,” Tenenbaum said. “I will ensure that these requirements are enforced vigorously and fairly.”
To find out whether your child’s toys are safe, click to search for them on the healthytoys.org database.
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